Books in Signatures series

To begin with he couldn't make out anything in the shadows thrown by the trees, but then he saw a black shape take form in the grey... It was Michael's idea. Excluded from school and reckless since the death of his father, he has refused to listen to Tony's protest. 'Time to pick up the past.' he said. They cycled to the heath on a Friday. Tony played truant, lying to his parents - trying not to think of their faces already stretched taut by threatening financial disaster. Michael drew it from the water - a long-buried treasure dripping slime and algae. And with it came new conflict and new hope...

Eighteen-year-old Matilda longs for freedom, to escape from her over-protective parents and the pain of her brother's death. Working on a farm in the idyllic countryside seems to offer the perfect opportunity. Paradise, in fact. But is it too perfect? Perhaps she should be suspicious of the nicer-than-nice people who run the farm, but Matilda doesn't care. She willingly lets herself be drawn in by the warmth they seem to offer, longing to be loved and understood. She doesn't want to question, or think, or worry. But these people have a shocking plan. By the time Matilda realizes it, will it be too late? A dramatic new novel of faith, forgiveness, and retribution by the author of Fleshmarket—a 2004 American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults.